Tampons and protective shield therefor



Oct. 16, 1962 J. R. CROCKFORD TAMPONS AND PROTECTIVE SHIELD THEREFORFiled Aug. 22, 1960 0 m w m m/ r m E w mp! C R D. e. S Y JB Unite StatesThis invention relates to tampons and applicators therefor. The tamponsto which the present invention relates are especially those of the typeintended for use during menstrual periods.

One of the obstacles met in using tampons of this character is thatencountered when inserting the tampon in the body orifice. Applicatorsof various kinds have been attempted, some of which were found difficultto use; others were so constructed as to make ejection of the tamponfrom them diflicult, and others required at least a partial insertion ofthem in the vagina. The unsuccessful efforts of the manufactures toproduce a practical and satisfactory applicator has resulted in ageneral disuse of applicators, many users employing the fingers for theinsertion of the tampons. The use of the fingers for the purpose isunsatisfactory; it is insanitary and distasteful to many, with theresult that many former users of tampons have abandoned their use andsolely because of the fact that they found the insertion of the tamponsrepugnant to them.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a tamponand an applicator which will eliminate the objections found inapplicators of the prior art; which will permit the insertion of thetampon without direct contact of the fingers with the tampon, and whichwill prevent soiling of the fingers when inserting the tampon.

It is an object of the invention to provide a tampon with a wrapperwhich will protect and maintain the tampon in a clean and sanitarycondition and which can be folded back to provide a protective shieldfor the fingers of the user while the tampon is being inserted.

It is an object of the invention to provide a wrapper around a tampon,said wrapper being in the form of a pleated cup with its pleated sidewall capable of distention while the fingers of the user hold one end ofthe wrapper-enclosing tampon, to cause said wall to form a flaring skirtaround the fingers engaged in holding the tampon, thereby permittinginsertion of the tampon during which time the skirt protects the fingersfrom soiling.

With these and other objects to be hereinafter set forth in view, I havedevised the arrangement of parts to be described and more particularlypointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein an illustrative embodiment of theinvention is disclosed,

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a tampon and its wrapper-applicator,constructed according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the same;

FIG. 3 shows the wrapper-applicator in a slightly unfolded condition;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the closure cap;

FIG. 5 is a view, in a reduced scale, of the tampon;

FIG. 6 shows how the tampon is held for insertion, and

FIG. 7 shows the wrapper-applicator in its flattened condition.

Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates a menstrual tampon of conventionalform, the same consisting of a substantially cylindrical body of softand absorbent material, usually of cotton or paper or a combination ofboth or other materials. The tampon need not be of the specific shapeshown in the drawing.

Extending from the rear end of the tampon 1 is a withdrawal cord 2, orso-called pull string by means of which the tampon is withdrawn from thebody orifice after use.

The combined wrapper and applicator 6 is, in its flattened form as shownin FIG. 7, in the form of a circular disk provided with a plurality ofradial folds or pleats 8 in order that it may be contracted or gatheredto thereby form it into a narrow, deep, open-mouthed cup to fullycontain the tampon 1, substantially as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Thecombined wrapper and applicator 6 may be composed of any suitableinexpensive foldable sheet material such as metal foil, paper, plasticor the like, and preferably a material that is at least water-resistantif not altogether water-impervious. The bottom or closed lower end ofthe wrapper-formed cup, consists of the circular area shown at 7.

When the tampon is placed inside of the pleated cup, the pull string 2is passed upwardly along the side of the tampon, as shown at 3 in FIG.2, is then brought over the upper edge of the wrapper as indicated at 4,and then extends downwardly in a free or dependent end portion 5.

The wrapper 6 is maintained in its cup-shaped form to hold the tampon,by means of a telescopically-applied closure cap 9 which, when fitted inplace, closes the open or forward end of the cup and thus co-operateswith the cup in completely enclosing and protecting the tampon.

To facilitate the insertion of the tampon in a body orifice, the forwardend of the tampon may be lubricated and the lubrication for such purposemay be contained within the interior of the closure cap as shown at 10.The act of placing the cap in position on the open end of the cup willbring the lubricant into contact with the forward end of the tampon andwill thus apply the lubricant thereto.

The pleated, cup-shaped wrapper not only serves as a protectiveenclosure or holder for the tampon, but as shown in FIG. 6, it serves asan applicator and a protective shield.

In preparing the tampon for use, the enclosure cap 9 is first removedfrom the end of the cupped wrapper 6. When that is done, a slight pullon the depending end 5 of the withdrawal cord will cause the walls ofthe wrapper or cup to open or flare outwardly substantially as shown inFIG. 3 and from which position the pleated wall can be readily spreadout and folded back over the fingers engaged in holding the rear endpart of the wrapper and tampon. This will be clear from FIG. 6 whereinit will be seen how the flared or open wrapper forms a protective skirtor shield in advance of the fingers. When the tampon thus held, isinserted into the body orifice the grip on the rear end of the tampon isreleased and the push of a finger on the central part 7 of the wrapperand against the rear end of the tampon then located forwardly of thatarea, will push the tampon forwardly and completely out of the Wrapperand into position in the body orifice.

During the entire operation of removing the cupped wrapper and insertingthe tampon in the body orifice, the tampon itself remains untouched bythe fingers, all con tact therewith being had through the wrapper. Whilethe tampon is being inserted, the folded-back wrapper, substantially inthe position shown in FIG. 6, forms a protective shield and preventssoiling of the hands. In the use of the device no parts of the wrapperenter the body orifice and the insertion of the tampon is quick, cleanand easily performed.

Having thus described a single embodiment of the invention, it isobvious that the same is not to be restricted thereto, but is broadenough to cover all structures coming within the scope of the annexedclaims.

What I claim is:

l. A tampon comprising, a tampon body provided with a pull string, acup-shaped, pleated wrapper closely fitting around and containing thetampon body, the wrapper being of a size and shape to enable it tofunction as a protective shield when partially unfolded from the tamponand while the tampon has one end held in the hand dur ing insertion, thepull string extending from the end of the tampon and along the innerwall surface of the wrapper and having a part disposed over the edge ofthe wrapper and extending externally of the wrapper so that a pullexerted on said part of the string will tend to cause an unfolding ofthe wrapper.

2.A tampon as provided for in claim 1, including a removable cap fittedover one end of the cup-shaped wrapper and serving as a cover therefor,said cup containing a lubricant for contact with an end of the tamponbody in the cup-shaped wrapper.

3. A Wrapper and protective shield for a tampon comprising, a cup havinga pleated side wall normally disposed against the side of a tamponenclosed in the wrapper, the wall of the cup being capable of beingspread outwardly to form a flaring skirt around the rear part of thetampon when the tampon is held at its rear end, a tampon containedwithin the wrapper, the wrapper being imperforate, the tampon having apull string extending from it, said string extending along the side ofthe tampon and over the top edge of the cup and terminating in adependent end on the outside of the cup and in such a position that apull on the dependent end of the string will cause the wall of the cupto flare outwardly.

4. A wrapper and protective shield for a tampon comprising, a sheet offlexible material folded around and closely fitting and forming a cupinto which a tampon is directly fitted, the sheet being substantiallydisk-shaped and being pleated to form it into a cup, the cup having aside wall of a length substantially as long as the tampon, the sheetbeing or" a size to form a protective shield for the fingers when it ispartially unwrapped from the tampon and when the tampon is held in thehand for insertion within a body orifice, the wrapper being whollyimperferate so that when it is interposed between the fingers and thetampon it forms a complete shield while the tampon is held forinsertion, and a cap fitted over the end of the wrapper and the forwardend of the tampon to hold the wrapper in its pleated condition closelyaround the tampon in direct contact therewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,733,714 Haas Feb. 7, 1956 2,854,978 Millman et al Oct. 7, 1958 FOREIGNPATENTS 903,262 Germany Jan. 31, 1955 1,018,586 Germany Oct. 31, 1957

